The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-12-07
A Girl CrusOe.

y
the South Sea Islands" From an out
line of her story, as told in the San
Francisco Call, the following facts are.
learned:
She was born in the Tientsn district,
China, in October, 1856 Her father
was engaged in gospel labors there at |
the time. The climate did not agree
with Mrs Durston, and while Hannah |
was yet very young the family moved |
to the Sandwich Islands, where Mr..
Durston, in company with family
named Johnannson, carried on mission
work. The Durstons eventually, in
1874, settled in the group of Vita Leyu,
one of the Fiji group. She says:
1t was on a Christmas day that [
remember so well my father telling
mother that he had decided to change
his residence to the Island of Kandavu,
and there work in harmony with the
Wesleyan ministers, who are numerous
on that island We made the change
ere another month had gone by. l did
not like Kandavu, although there is
pretty bay and some fine island scenery.
We lived in hut made of cane several
miles from where the colony was To-
Gated.
" 1t was very lonesome, and many of
the natives had ugly dispositions. They
professed disgust and contempt openly
for missionaries. Mothers soft and
kind ways seemed 10 have no effect
upon them, and quite frequently they
stole things from us-theft l would
say, though, is not a common practice
among the Fiiians. One day father
reprimanded a sub-chief called Ko-ko
for stealing a iack-knife, and in reply
the chief threatened to wreak ven
geance on us. Father had but little
days afterwards friendly native came
and told us that Ko-ko and some of
his friends would pay us visit that
night and probably murder father and
mother and carry me into captivity,
for Ko-ko had an evil and licentious
disposition.
" Father became alarmed at this. AS
the beach was near by we resolved to
take few things and seek safety on
the ocean in our large bark canoe until
the next day, when we could reach the
colony overland, as Ko-kO and his
men would surely be on the lookout.
From the door of our hut to the sandy
beach was only few steps. Here was
our canoe, which father used in visiting
ad iacent islands. In the bow was a
capacious locker, where food and few
other necessaries could be kept. Toward
sunset we fastened to the beach, placed
our things in the locker and father
pushed the canoe into the water. 1t
would seem that we were none too
soon in getting away, for the canoe was
barely hundred feet from the beach
when the treacherous Ko-ko and six
other natives came bounding to the
waters edge, brandishing their spears
at us in a threatening fashion. Ko-ko,
with an imprecation, hurled a spear at
us, but it fell short and dropped into
the water. Father breathed fervent
prayer over our narrow escape and
hoisted a sail upon the slender mast.
Under the impetus of a gentle breeze
the canoe soon left the shore far be-
hind.
Mother and l wrapped ourselves
up in blankets, at fathers request, and
lay down in the bottom of the canoe to
rest while he watched. 1t was some
time before the tapping of the water
against the sides of the canoe lulled
me TO sleep. do not know how long
I slumbered, but l was aroused by a
sharp cry from father and fearful
tossing of the canoe. My mother was
already sitting up. The stars which
had studded the sky when dozed off
were obscured by black masses of
clouds, gusts of wind were shrieking in
dismal way about us and the waves
were large and high, at times rolling
into the canoe. We knew that one of
those terrible storms which spring up
so suddenly in the islands was about to
break upon us.
+" God help us, murmured my
father, reverently, and he offered up a
prayer for our deliverance. l shall
never forget what followed. The
black clouds seemed to open and belch
out fire and let loose batteries of
thunder. The shrieking wind had the
velocity of gale, and the canoe was
tossed like chip upon the tops of
angry white waves that cleaned like
white fangs of devouring monster.
The sail was rent asunder and the rain
began to pour down in torrents.
Suddenly, above the roar of the
thunder, we could distinguish contin-
uous rumbling sound.
"Those are breakers, and we will
soon be among them, whispered father,
adding words of comfort at the same
time.
"The next thing l remember was a
deafening crash and sharp cry from
mother. was struck by something
and consciousness left me. can recol-
lect opening my eyes as if from pro-
found sleep. The sun was smiling
down from a blue and cloudless sky.
| raised myself and found the ocean at
my feet. 1t was as placid as lake. |
was lying on the wet beach not three
feet from where the waves were rip
ping on the sand. My clothes were
dripping wet. The occurrences of the
storm came to me like an electric shock.
My first thoughts were regarding father
and mother. Were they safe or-but |
reached the horrible alternative! About
thirty feet away saw the canoe cast
high and dry upon the beach. Its side
was stove in where it had struck the
rock. Running up to it, | saw it was
| ap,ptu A lopo tho otratch of haanh M